Agenda item

103.1   The Board considered a report providing an update on matters relating to Pensions Administration activities and Paul Punter (PP) drew the Board’s attention to the following points:

KPIs

1)    Lower performance figures were expected for the next quarter with various projects requiring resources including GMP rectification, the McCloud judgement changes, i-Connect enrolment and supporting the helpdesk.

2)    The McCloud data is not complete on the system but the team is making good progress and all data except for 1 employer is with Heywoods at present.

3)    Automation of some calculations through robotics will go live soon which will ease the strain on resources. Prioritising redundancy calculations as part of this.

4)    PAT performance numbers are 81% which is lower that the target at 95% with the impact of completing the B&H CC work now being felt. Performance not expected at target level until the end of the next quarter at earliest.

5)    6.7% increase in pension benefits this year which will impact liabilities.

6)    The B&HCC April 23 i-Connect file went onto the system this week, some work required to assess joiners and leavers.

Helpdesk

7)    Covering the helpdesk short term (only2 FTE remaining in the team) as 2 staff members have left, the staffing consultation work is ongoing, and the helpdesk work will go back into the East Sussex team from ORBIS  at 1 April. Back up staff are not covered by the TUPE process and so can’t be given the higher pay rate so they are unlikely to accept offers to transfer to East Sussex. As a result PAT and  recruiting 3 external staff to join the Help Desk as a result. PAT have resolved a huge number of enquiries via email while phone service was maintained, the work is handed by the helpdesk now but expecting more Enquires, particularly relating to the switch to electronic payslips.

Staff                

8)    Focus on recruitment to provide staff to the Helpdesk. Working on recruiting apprenticeships and building up a staff base that way. It is very difficult to find experienced pension administrators, particularly with LAPF experience.

Projects          

9)    GMP: expecting data back from Mercers, some decisions may be required depending on what is received. Will be taken forward through Pension Administration Working Group.

10)The member self service project has been rescheduled to launch in May/June, the first stage is called “Engage” Officers would like to share this with the Trade Union representatives to be able to test and pilot the service with ESCC staff.

103.2   NS asked if performance is being impacted by projects and the extra work which necessitates diverting staff.

103.3   PP confirmed that there is always ongoing project work which the team can manage within the existing resource however at present there are a number of conflicting deadlines. Two significant projects will conclude soon and he predicts that the team workload will be more manageable in two to three months. 

103.4   RM highlighted that the previous KPI figures did not include all projects (refunds and deferred calculations are now included) and that the KPI’s would be higher if reporting was on the same tasks as last year.

103.5   The Board RESOLVED to note the report.